Technical Field

The following invention relates to water bottles and other containers for storage of liquids, and with a removable lid and a support for a carabiner on the lid. More particularly, this invention relates to carabiner supports on lids or vessels of containers which hold the carabiner static in multiple positions relative to the lid.

Background Art

Intake of fluids into the body is a critical aspect of health maintenance. Both when exercising and when in hot dry environments, as well as during normal life activities and in cooler and more humid environments, fluid intake is highly correlated with disease avoidance and health maintenance generally. Supplies of fresh drinking water and other appropriate fluids are generally limited to specific locations, such as within a residence, within an office building, at a store or restaurant, or perhaps adjacent to a well or clean stream. In contrast, a need for fluids and proper hydration is more continuous in nature and it includes times when an individual is not near a suitable water supply. Thus, water bottles and other containers have proliferated and enjoyed prevalent use. Often such containers include a vessel and some form of a lid which can be opened to allow the container to be held, and which, when closed, generally keep water from escaping the container. Drinking from the container can occur with removal of the lid or through the lid if another outlet through the lid (or container) is appropriately configured to facilitate such an outlet.

Such water and other fluid containers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some such containers have handles to facilitate carrying by an individual. Others have standardized shapes which can fit within pouches in backpacks, purses and other devices, which are shaped to a standard size so that such containers can be held within such “cupholders” or other pouches for water bottles. Each of these solutions generally addresses desires to have the water bottle always present with an individual, but minimizing the requirement that one of the individual’s two hands always be used up entirely by holding the water bottle or other container.

One at least partial solution to the desire to carry water bottles and similar containers in a hands-free manner is to utilize a carabiner or similar loop clip device (herein generally described using the general term “carabiner”) passing through a loop on the water bottle or other container. While the loop can be carried by a hand or at least one finger of the user, if a carabiner passes through this loop instead, the carabiner can also be attached to a belt loop, strap on a backpack, or other item of clothing worn by an individual, or other structure where the water bottle or other container is desired to be carried. Such other structures include coat racks, coat hook, door knobs, or any of a variety of other structures upon which a carabiner can connect.

The carabiner preferably is openable and closable, so that it cannot only be attached to the loop on the water bottle or other container, but also be opened and closed to attach to a closed loop, such as a belt loop. It also can conveniently be hung over a hook without requiring it to be opened, so that the carabiner is a flexible attachment device useful in a variety of circumstances to support the water bottle or other container. Such a carabiner is also rotated out of a plane in which the loop on the water bottle is oriented, at least somewhat, which can allow for a greater variety of hooks to be useful in carrying a water bottle. Furthermore, the carabiner acts as a loop which can be pivoted to an offset location to a lateral side of the water bottle, which can be important when the water bottle is to be hung from a hook which is not sufficiently large for the width of the water bottle, so the water bottle cannot easily be both connected to the hook and dangle down from the hook, especially when adjacent to a wall or other vertical support.

Some water bottles come with their own carabiner, while most often individuals provide their own carabiner to add this flexibility in the way that water bottles and other containers can be carried in a hands-free manner. Whether the carabiner is supplied with the water bottle or other container, or supplied by an individual, the carabiner and loop (or other vessel attachment) interact in a manner similar to two links in a chain, with gravity loads acting on the carabiner to cause the carabiner to lay flat against the loop and/or water bottle or other container (see Figure 1), unless held up by hand of an individual (see Figure 2). When the water bottle is suspended from the carabiner, the tension forces passing through the carabiner and down to the loop of the water bottle keep the carabiner elevated above the water bottle. However, when the carabiner is not being used to suspend a water bottle, the carabiner lies flat. When the carabiner lies flat, it does not readily present an opening in the loop of the carabiner for placement upon hooks, or passage through other loops. Rather, a two-handed operation is required. A user utilizes one hand to hold the water bottle or other container while the second hand manipulates the carabiner to hold it in position and place it over the hook or other structure from which the water bottle and carabiner are to be suspended. A user must then typically also manipulate the carabiner to go from a closed to an open position to pass through the support structure, if it is in the form of a loop.

Thus, not only are two hands required to perform this carabiner connection operation, but one of the two hands of an individual has to both pivot up the carabiner out of its initial downward position, and manipulate the carabiner simultaneously to open the carabiner, before it can be hooked on such a loop. If the user does not have the required dexterity, this procedure can be difficult or impossible to achieve. Furthermore, if even a highly dexterous and skilled user is also carrying another object or objects in the hands of the individual, this procedure is less easy to perform. Accordingly, a need exists for a solution to this problem.

Disclosure of the Invention

With this invention, a water bottle or other container is provided with a loop that can hold a carabiner in any of a variety of pre-positioned orientations relative to the loop, and hold the carabiner in that position with sufficient force to at least carry the gravity load of the carabiner itself. Thus, the carabiner can be pivoted out of a downward position caused by gravity to any other desired position relative to the loop (or other portions of the container). When the user releases the carabiner, the carabiner remains in the position where it is left. To achieve this basic function, one embodiment of the invention is disclosed.

Typically with this invention, the water bottle will have some form of a loop, typically a loop through which at least one finger can pass, and to facilitate carrying of the water bottle or other container. However, in one embodiment of this invention, no such loop is provided through which fingers of a user or portions of the hand of a user can pass. Whether the water bottle or other container includes such a loop or not, at least a portion of the water bottle includes a resilient mass of material attached to the water bottle or other container and with a hole passing through this resilient mass. This hole is preferably substantially linear in form and has a diameter similar to a diameter of a portion of a carabiner. A length of this hole is sufficiently short that the carabiner can be routed through the hole and with the resilient flexible characteristic of the mass of material being sufficiently compliant that the carabiner can pass entirely through the hole so the different portions of the carabiner can be supported passing through the hole.

Most preferably, the hole has a diameter slightly smaller than that of portions of the carabiner passing through the hole, but the material from which the mass of resilient material is formed has sufficient flexibility that it can deform somewhat when the carabiner passes therethrough, to allow the carabiner to pass therethrough. With the mass of resilient material having a carabiner passing through the hole thereof, the mass of resilient material has been flexed somewhat, and elastically exhibits a restoring force which acts against the surfaces of the carabiner passing through the hole in the form of high friction forces, sufficiently high to counteract the loads of gravity acting on the carabiner.

As an example, if a carabiner is 4 cm long and has a center of mass nearest a center of the carabiner, and if the carabiner weighs 10 g, when the carabiner is oriented horizontally with a portion of the carabiner passing through the hole in the mass of resilient material, a gravity load in the form of torque acts downwardly on the carabiner which equals the product of a 10 g mass with the force of gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s ² ) and multiplied by the distance from where the carabiner passes through the hole in the resilient mass of material to the center of mass of the carabiner (2 cm), equaling about 0.002 Nm.

With the mass of resilient material having sufficient resiliency and elasticity characteristics, and with the hole through the mass of resilient material being sufficiently small to provide a friction fit between the hole and a portion of the carabiner, the friction forces acting on the carabiner can produce a counteracting torque sufficiently strong (at least 0.002 Nm in the example above) to keep the carabiner from rotating under gravity forces. As one example, a rubber material having a Shore D hardness of less than 50 (or a Shore A hardness of less than 100), and with a friction fit between the hole in the mass of resilient material and the carabiner, being such that a diameter of the hole is at least 1 mm less than a diameter of the carabiner, is sufficient to allow a 10 g carabiner passing through a 5 mm hole in a resilient material to be able to hold a horizontal position, provided that the carabiner is no larger than 4 cm in total size. By varying these parameters in various different ways, numerous other combinations could be provided which would exhibit the requisite resistance to rotation of the carabiner, so that the carabiner would hold its position regardless of the orientation into which it is positioned.

Another material which is disclosed as an option for the resilient mass coupled to the water bottle or other container is silicone. Such silicone material can be molded onto a portion of the water bottle through an over molding process. In one embodiment, the water bottle already has a loop or handle formed of plastic or metal material. A silicone over mold surrounds this portion of the loop and is filled with silicone utilizing an appropriate silicone over molding process. During this molding process, a plug passes through the silicone over mold material, which plug can later be removed and leave the hole passing through the resilient mass of materials.

In one embodiment, the carabiner would be captured within the hole in the mass of resilient material in a permanent fashion. The carabiner would still be openable and closable to provide the benefits of a carabiner. If a user wished to utilize the user’s own carabiner, such a personal carabiner could still be attached to the fixed carabiner associated with the water bottle.

As a further option and to implement this invention by providing a resilient mass of material with a hole passing therethrough, a standard rubber grommet could be provided and affixed to the water bottle or other container in some fashion, allowing the hole passing through the grommet to be accessible via a portion of a carabiner. The diameter of the hole of the grommet would be carefully selected relative to the diameter of the carabiner elements so that the carabiner elements can pass through this hole and exhibit a friction fit with sufficient friction to allow the carabiner to hold a static position at any orientation. The grommet could fit within a bore in the lid or other portion of the container and act as a resilient liner for the bore to hold the carabiner passing therethrough. While the resilient mass of material holds the carabiner in position in a manner overcoming gravity loads acting on the carabiner, these forces are not so great as to prevent a user from re-positioning the carabiner as desired. Rather, a user adds forces tending to pivot the carabiner which are sufficiently great to overcome the friction forces acting against such rotation, and the carabiner is then able to be moved into a new position. A user can thus position the carabiner relative to the mass of resilient material and relative to the water bottle or other container into a desired orientation. Then, when the hand of the user is removed from the carabiner, the carabiner holds this new position.

In one embodiment, this technique is utilized so that the carabiner can be extended mostly straight upwardly, and then the carabiner can be reached over a hook suspended from the ceiling or high above the user. In this way, a user which is not tall enough to hook the water bottle onto an overhanging hook, can reach a little higher with such a carabiner passing through the hole in the resilient mass according to this invention, and suspend the water bottle up above the user, and generally sufficiently high so the user does not need to worry about banging into the water bottle suspended from some overhanging hook. As an example, users when camping often desire to have a water bottle hanging from an upper portion of a tent. With the resilient mass associated with the water bottle or other container of this invention, a user can very easily hang a water bottle from an overhanging portion of the tent for convenient storage of the water bottle when not in use.

In each of these illustrative embodiments, the carabiner can be pre-installed into the hole, or a user can provide their own carabiner. The structure surrounding the hole can either be formed of a more rigid material or formed of the same silicone over mold or other resilient material, to provide the requisite combination of resilience and friction, as well as associated structure, so that a carabiner can be held in position and carabiners of different sizes can preferably still fit within the hole. This hole can be fitted onto different types of water bottles or other container lids, or on portions of the containers separate from the lid.

Brief Description of Drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container, such as a water bottle, including a lid with a static carabiner support according to this invention included on the lid and supporting a carabiner thereon, and showing the carabiner in two of multiple different static orientations for the carabiner.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of that which is shown in Figure 1, but with the lid removed from the vessel portion of the bottle and preparing to be attached to a ferrous band on the vessel through a magnet on the lid, illustrating an optional feature of the lid and vessel, and also showing a carabiner held in a static position by the carabiner support on the lid.

Figure 3 is an exploded parts perspective view of the carabiner support, showing various separate parts thereof according to one embodiment, and with the carabiner support shown separate from a lid upon which it is mounted in various different ways in different embodiments.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a spout lid according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, and with a carabiner statically supported by an alternative embodiment carabiner support on the spout lid.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of that which is shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a front elevation view of that which is shown in Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a side elevation view of that which is shown in Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a centered lid according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, and with a carabiner statically supported by a carabiner support located in a central position on the centered lid.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of that which is shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a front elevation view of that which is shown in Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a side elevation view of that which is shown in Figure 8.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a straw lid according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, and with a carabiner statically supported by an alternative embodiment carabiner support located upon the straw lid.

Figure 13 is a top plan view of that which is shown in Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a front elevation view of that which is shown in Figure 12.

Figure 15 is a side elevation view of that which is shown in Figure 12.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a centered spout lid according to an alternative embodiment of this invention, and with a carabiner statically supported by a carabiner support located upon a covering of a spout extending up from the centered spout lid. Figure 17 is a top plan view of that which is shown in Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a front elevation view of that which is shown in Figure 16.

Figure 19 is a side elevation view of that which is shown in Figure 16.

Best Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the various drawing figures, reference numeral 10 (Figures 1 and 2) is directed to a bottle defining one form of fluid container upon which a carabiner support 50 is provided for static support of a carabiner C, in different fixed positions relative to the bottle 10. The carabiner support 50 on the bottle 10 allows a carabiner C to be attached to the bottle 10 and be conveniently and reliably positioned relative to the bottle 10 in the most desired orientation, and then maintain that position for convenient attaching and detaching of the carabiner C to other items.

With particular reference to Figures 1 and 2, basic details of the bottle 10 with static carabiner support 50 are described, according to an illustrated embodiment. In other embodiments shown in Figures 4-19 alternative embodiment lids 30, 110, 210, 310, 410 are disclosed which show various positions for the carabiner supports 50, 150 upon different types of lids associated with the bottle 10. The bottle 10 generally includes a vessel 20 for containment of liquids therein, and a lid 30 which is removably attachable to the vessel 20. A magnet 40 is provided as an option on the lid 30 (and/or on the vessel 20) in this embodiment, which can interact with an optional ferrous band 26 or other portion of the vessel 20 (or lid 30), to allow the lid 30 to be attached to the vessel 20, both by attachment of the lid 30 to the vessel 20 in a manner covering an opening into an interior of the vessel 20, or with the lid 30 attached to the vessel 20 through the magnet 40 in a manner leaving the opening into the interior of the vessel 20 open.

The carabiner support 50 (Figures 3, 8-11 and 16-19) features a hole 55 which can receive a portion of a carabiner C passing therethrough. The hole 55 of the carabiner support 50 is constructed in a manner optimizing an orientation of the hole 55 and frictional characteristics of the hole 55 relative to the carabiner C, and with sufficient friction to allow the hole 55 of the carabiner support 50 to hold a carabiner C in a static orientation in multiple different positions for the carabiner C relative to the carabiner support 50. In one embodiment, the carabiner support 50 includes an arch 60 supporting a grommet 70 held in place by a front collar 80 and a rear collar 90, and with the hole 55 located within the grommet 70 (Figure 3).

More specifically, and with continuing reference to Figures 1 and 2, particular details of the bottle 10, including the vessel 20 a first embodiment lid 30, are disclosed, to which the carabiner support 50 or an alternative carabiner support 150 can be incorporated to provide the benefits of this invention. The bottle 10 generally includes two separate parts; a vessel 20 and a lid 30. The vessel 20 is an open topped fluid container. The vessel 20 generally includes a bottom 22 at a lower portion that extends to a top 24 opposite the bottom 22. Walls of the vessel 20 extend up from the bottom 22 to the top 24, and with the top 24 including an opening through which an interior of the vessel 20 can be accessed, such as for storing water or other liquids (or conceivably other fluids or flowable solids). The walls of the vessel 20 can be thin or can be thicker with insulation, such as in the form of a vacuum bottle. In one common embodiment, the top 24 of the vessel 20 terminates at a threaded collar 28 surrounding the opening. The threaded collar 28 is configured with male threads sized and oriented to interface with threads on the lid 30 for coupling of the lid 30 to the vessel 20 in a manner selectively covering or exposing the opening of the vessel 20.

The vessel 20 could be entirely formed of a ferrous material or be formed with magnets embedded therein. The lid 30 similarly includes either the magnet 40 thereon or at least a ferrous portion thereon. A magnetic fastener is provided between the vessel 20 and lid 30. This magnetic fastener includes two parts (“halves”) which are attracted to each other magnetically. These two parts could each be magnets, such as with north and south ends of the magnets appropriately oriented to provide an attractive force between these two magnets. As an alternative, one of the halves of this magnetic fastener could be a magnet while the other half is merely a ferrous material.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, a ferrous band 26 is provided on sides of the vessel 20 near the top 24. While this ferrous band 26 could be exposed on outer surfaces thereof as part of the magnetic fastener, in one embodiment the ferrous band is beneath an outer covering of separate material, and still exhibits magnetic attraction as part of the magnetic fastener, acting through such a covering material. In one embodiment, this covering material is stainless steel overlying the ferrous band 26. In other embodiments, a non-metallic material, such as a silicone rubber, could overlay the ferrous band (or magnets associated with the vessel 20). Stainless steel is an ideal material due to its strength, resistance to rust or other corrosion, and ease of sanitization. However, stainless steel is only slightly magnetic, such that inclusion of the ferrous band (or other magnets) is highly beneficial. If the magnet 40 is sufficiently strong, it is conceivable that stainless steel (especially a grade of stainless steel which has somewhat better than average magnetic characteristics) could conceivably be utilized.

The lid 30 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a basic lid 30 featuring the alternative carabiner support 150 affixed thereto. This basic lid 30 includes an upper surface 32 which is preferably planar, but could have some other shape. This upper surface 32 is circular in this embodiment, with a skirt 34 extending cylindrically down from the upper surface 32. The upper surface 32 and skirt 34 could have other shapes, including oval, faceted polygon shapes and other geometries. Female threads 36 are provided on an inwardly facing surface of the skirt 32. These female threads 36 are sized and shaped to match with the male threads on the threaded collar 28 adjacent to the top 24 of the vessel 20. The lid/vessel bread could be reversed. A gasket 38 is preferably provided against an inside portion of the upper surface 32 on the lid 30 and inboard of the female threads 36. This gasket 38 is positioned so that it can compress and seal against an uppermost tip of the threaded collar 28 on the vessel 20, and to provide a watertight seal between the lid 30 and vessel 20, when the lid 30 is threaded tightly down onto the threaded collar 28 of the vessel 20. Other gasketing could alternatively be employed.

The magnet 40 extends laterally from a portion of the skirt 34 in this exemplary embodiment. However, the magnet 40 could be provided on the upper surface 32 or extending from the junction between the skirt 34 and upper surface 32. The magnet 40 generally includes a casing 42 (Figures 5-7) which covers lateral sides of the magnet 40 and attaches the magnet 40 to the lid 130. The casing 42 extends up from a root 44 adjacent to the skirt 34, and terminates at a contact pad 46. This contact pad 46 defines a portion of the casing 42 most distant from the root 44.

Most preferably, at least the contact pad 46 is formed of a higher friction material than other portions of the casing 42, and generally having a higher than average coefficient of friction. In one embodiment, this contact pad 46 is formed of silicone. The entire casing 42 could be formed of silicone, but in this embodiment only the contact pad 46 is formed of silicone. Having a higher coefficient of friction, the magnetic fastener provided by the magnet 40 and the ferrous band 26 (and any material overlying the ferrous band 26) together provide the magnetic fastener, strong enough to keep the lid 30 attached to the vessel 20 when not closing the opening into the vessel 20 (as illustrated in Figure 2).

In one embodiment, the carabiner support 50 is directly adjacent to the magnet 40. When the lid 30 is attached to the vessel 20 through the magnet 40 (along arrow A of Figure 2) bending forces associated with gravity acting on the lid 30 tend to cause the lid 30 to rotate downwardly and peel the magnet 40 away from the ferrous band 26 on the vessel 20. While magnetic attraction between the magnet 40 and ferrous band 26 is sufficiently great to keep the lid 30 from moving relative to the vessel 20, the lid 30 can also encounter other forces, such as forces associated with movement of the vessel 20 and lid 30 together, and forces associated with bumping items into the lid 30. It is desirable that the lid 30 be held as tightly as possible to the vessel 20 through the magnet 40 (but not so much that it takes excessive force to separate the lid 30 from the vessel 20). To keep inadvertent forces from overcoming strength of the magnet 30 and causing the lid 30 to fall off of the vessel 20 (or rattle), the carabiner support 50, 150 can beneficially be provided adjacent to the magnet 40. This causes a pivot point for the lid 30 relative to the vessel 20 to be moved downwardly at a location of the carabiner support 50, 150, rather than being only an edge of the magnet 40. With magnetic attraction forces centered on the magnet 40, spacing of this magnetic force away from such a pivot point increases torque of the magnet 40 relative to the vessel 20 and significantly increases stability with which the lid 30 is attached to the vessel 20 through the magnet 40.

The alternative carabiner support 150 is shown in Figures 1 and 2. This alternative carabiner support 150 has a hole 155 passing therethrough. This alternative carabiner support 150 is also characterized by having an undercut foot 162 on at least one side thereof where the alternative carabiner support 150 attaches to the upper surface 32 of the lid 30. The carabiner support 50 (Figures 3, 8-11 and 16-19) does not include such an undercut foot. Other details of the alternative carabiner support 150 are generally similar to details of the carabiner support 50, and as particularly disclosed in Figure 3. The carabiner C (Figures 1 and 2) attached to the carabiner support 50, 150 can be any of a variety of carabiners C. Generally, the carabiner C includes a latch L which can pivot about a hinge H to open and close the carabiner C for attachment and securing to support structures such as hooks, loops, poles, straps, and a variety of other support structures. The carabiner C generally includes a bend B adjacent to the hinge H and a hook K opposite the bend B. Typically the carabiner C is positioned passing through the hole 55, 155 in the carabiner support 50, 150 and with the hook K most distant from the carabiner support 50, 150 and the bend B residing within the carabiner support 50, 150. However, other portions of the carabiner C could reside in the hole 55, 155.

The carabiner C can be positioned in a variety of different orientations, and generally limiting the carabiner C to pivoting with one degree of freedom about arrow G (Figure 1). Figure 1 illustrates the carabiner C in a first vertical orientation, extending along vertical axis Y. The carabiner C is secondarily shown after being pivoted (along arrow G) to a horizontal orientation extending along horizontal axis X. The carabiner C could also be positioned in intermediate positions between those extending along vertical axis Y and horizontal axis X, either cantilevering out from the lid 30 or extending over the lid 30, and even pivoting down into contact with the upper surface 32 of the lid 30 if desired.

The hole 55, 155 associated with the carabiner support 50, 150 is sized and formed of an appropriate material so that friction forces between the carabiner C and the carabiner support 50, 150 are greater than gravity forces acting on the carabiner C in proportion to a mass of the carabiner C, even when the carabiner C is extending horizontally along axis X. Thus, the carabiner C can be positioned where desired and hold that position statically without requiring a user to have a hand holding the carabiner C where desired to maintain the carabiner C in a desired orientation relative to the lid 30 and other portions of the bottle 10.

With particular reference to Figure 3, details of the carabiner support 50 are described, according to one embodiment of this invention. The carabiner support 50 can be any of a variety of structures providing a hole 55 which can support the carabiner C, such as with the bend B at the carabiner C extending through the hole 55. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the carabiner support 50 is formed of four separate pieces. An arch 60 is formed along with the lid 30 or fixedly attached to the lid 30, typically extending upward from an upper surface 32 (Figures 4 and 7) of the lid 30.

The arch 60 has a foot 62 defining a lowermost portion of the arch 60 which is generally planar, or otherwise contoured to match a contour of the upper surface 32 of the lid 30. A curving roof 64 extends from the foot 62 on one side of the arch 60 to the foot 62 on an opposing side of the arch 60, and is generally cylindrical in form, except that it is planar and vertical where this curving roof 64 interfaces with the foot 62. Faces 66 are oriented generally perpendicular to the curving roof 64, with two such faces 66 parallel and spaced from each other by a thickness of the arch 60, defined by a width of the curving roof 64. A bore 68 passes between the faces 66, generally perpendicular to the faces 66. This bore 68 supports other structures which define the hole 55 in the carabiner support 50. The bore 68 is typically circular, but could have some other shape.

A grommet 70 is configured to fit within the bore 68 in the arch 60. The grommet 70 is typically formed of different materials than the arch 60, with the arch 60 being formed generally of rigid materials, such as injection moldable plastic, and with the grommet 70 formed of resilient materials. One form of resilient material for the grommet 70 includes rubber. In other embodiments, the grommet 70 could be formed of silicone (or silicone rubber).

The grommet 70 has a geometry in this embodiment including a cylindrical outer surface 72 sized to be inboard of walls of the bore 68 of the arch 60. Conical faces 74 are on opposite surfaces of the grommet 70. These conical faces 74 cause an interior of the grommet 70 to taper down to a smaller and smaller diameter until the conical faces 74 come together at a neck 76 defining a smallest diameter interior pathway through the grommet 70. Rims 78 define end of the conical faces 74 most distant from the neck 76 and generally spaced from each other by a distance similar to a thickness of the arch 60 in this embodiment.

The neck 76 defines the hole 55 in this embodiment. The neck 76 is preferably circular and can have some degree of thickness spacing the two conical faces 74 from each other adjacent to the neck 76. This neck 76 can be formed of a common material with other portions of the grommet 70, or can be formed of an alternative material, or have an alternative coating on a surface thereof, or surface roughness and characteristics, or shape characteristics other than perfectly circular, to provide the hole 55 with the friction characteristics desired. For instance, the neck 76 could have an undulating ribbed form with axial ribs to accommodate the carabiners C having different diameters and still be held statically by the neck 76. These desired friction characteristics include that the hole 55 have static friction coefficients and characteristics sufficient to hold the carabiner C in a static orientation, regardless of whether the carabiner C is extending vertically or horizontally, or in some other orientation relative to the carabiner support 50.

The grommet 70 could be flanged and sufficiently flexible and resilient that it would merely snap into the bore 68 in the arch 60, with a flange on either side of the grommet 70 remaining adjacent the two faces 66 of the arch 60. In this embodiment, however, a front collar 80 and rear collar 90 are provided to hold the grommet 70 in position. The front collar 80 includes an inner sleeve 82 of cylindrical form and with a flange 84 of annular form, with the inner sleeve 82 and flange 84 fixed to each other or formed together to define the front collar 80. The rear collar 90 similarly includes an outer sleeve 92 of cylindrical form and a rear flange 94 of annular form which are fixed together or formed together to provide the rear collar 90.

The front collar 80 and rear collar 90 are similar to each other, except that the inner sleeve 82 of the front collar 80 has a lesser diameter than the outer sleeve 92 of the rear color 90. In this way, the inner sleeve 82 can nest inboard of the outer sleeve 92. The outer sleeve 92 is sized to just fit within the bore 68. The inner sleeve 82 is sized to have the outer surface 72 of the grommet 70 just fit inside the inner sleeve 82. With such a shape, the outer sleeve 92 and inner sleeve 82 can have a friction fit relative to each other or could thread together with mating threads thereon, or could utilize an adhesive or other fastener to join the front collar 80 to the rear collar 90.

The inner collar 80 and outer collar 90 are preferably formed of a similar material. These materials could be rigid, such as injection moldable plastic or metal. As another alternative, the front collar 80 and rear collar 90 could be formed of silicone or rubber, and optionally formed of a similar material as that forming the grommet 70. In one embodiment, the front collar 80 and rear collar 90 are provided as a silicone over mold directly onto the arch 60 of the lid 30, to hold the grommet 70 in place. In one embodiment, the grommet 70, front collar 80 and rear collar 90 are all formed together by molding, such as in the form of a silicone over mold, molded directly to the arch 60 for permanent affixation of these resilient portions of the carabiner support 50 to the rigid arch 60 portion of the carabiner support 50.

While the grommet 70, front collar 80 and rear collar 90 are all described above as being fixed relative to the arch 60, so that pivoting only occurs at an interface between the carabiner C and the neck 76 of the grommet 70, as an alternative, some movement at other interfaces between these parts of the carabiner support 50 could be accommodated. For instance, the grommet 70 as well as the front collar 80 and rear collar 90 could all be either formed together or joined together after forming, so that they remain held together as a unit. However, this unit comprised of the grommet 70, front collar 80 and rear collar 90 (or equivalent singular structure replacing these three parts) could fit within the bore 68 of the arch 60, but in a manner allowing rotation of this singular structure relative to the arch 60. A surface of the bore 68 would interact with adjacent surfaces of such a singular structure. This interaction could be an interaction between adjacent surfaces which is high friction in character, such as two silicone rubber surfaces, or one being a silicone rubber surface while the other is a metal or plastic surface. This interface could have tight tolerances, or other appropriate tolerances to provide the desired level of friction and resistance to rotation. In such an embodiment, the carabiner C could pivot relative to the neck 76 or the singular structure could rotate relative to the bore 68 of the arch 60, or both such positions could accommodate rotation (along arrow G of Figure 1), but with sufficient friction to hold the carabiner C static in whatever position that it is left.

In one embodiment, friction between the neck 76 and the carabiner C is greater than friction between the equivalent singular structure and the bore 68 of the arch 60, so that rotational forces cause rotation at the interface between the singular structure and the bore 68, preferentially over rotation at the interface between the carabiner (and the neck 76). In this way, the relatively small surface area between the neck 76 and the carabiner C would be less often deflected and otherwise “worked” by rotation of the carabiner C, so that this relatively small surface area of the neck 76 experiences a much lower rate of wear, then it would if the neck 76 and carabiner C interface were being “worked” by rotation of the carabiner C adjacent thereto every time the carabiner C was rotated. Instead, the much larger interface surface between the equivalent singular structure and the bore 68 would most often be “worked” by carabiner C rotation, but because of the significantly larger surface area, wear experienced by that interface surface would be significantly reduced by being spread out over a larger surface, so that performance of this pivoting joint would be maintained within acceptable levels through greater numbers of cycles, then if the neck 76 and carabiner C were the only interface which facilitated such pivoting.

With particular reference to Figure 18 a variation on the carabiner support 50 of Figure 3 is disclosed. In this embodiment, rather than having the neck 76 be a closed hole, a slot 420 extends laterally into the hole 55. The arch 60, grommet 70, front collar 80 and rear collar 90, or equivalent structures would all be modified to include the slot 420. Surfaces of the slot 420 would preferably be covered with resilient materials, such as silicone. The slot 420 would have a width slightly smaller than a diameter of the neck 76 and slightly smaller then portions of the carabiner C, so that the carabiner C could travel through the slot 420 (along arrow S) only by deflecting the resilient portions adjacent to the slot 420 sufficient for the carabiner C to snap into the hole 55.

As a further alternative, and also shown in Figure 18, the neck 76 could be open on the lateral side, and portions of the carabiner support 50 above the hole 55 could be configured as a cover 420 which can pivot about a hinge area 440, and along arrow T, between a closed position and an open position, and then back to a closed position. A latch could be provided to secure the cover 430 to other portions of the carabiner support 50, after the carabiner C has been passed into the hole 55 (along arrow S), and then the cover 430 would be closed down (along arrow T) to close off access into the hole 55 and to capture the carabiner C within the hole 55.

With particular reference to Figures 4-7, details of a spout lid 110 alternative embodiment are disclosed, and including the alternative carabiner support 150 thereon. The spout lid 110 is similar to the lid 30 described in detail above, except where distinctly described herein. In particular, the spout lid 110 includes a cap 112 overlying a spout extending up from the upper surface 32 of the spout lid 110. A skirt 34 extends cylindrically down from the upper surface 32. Ribs 114 extend axially along an outer surface of the cap 112 to enhance a tactile nature of the cap 112 for rotation thereof. The spout underlying the cap 112 can be generally cylindrical in form and include male threads thereon which match with female threads inside the cap 112. Thus, rotation of the cap 112 (along arrow E of Figure 5) causes the cap 112 to be attached and/or detached to the spout, and positioned closing or opening access to an interior of the bottle 10.

The spout and associated cap 112 are angled slightly so that they are centered along a centerline CL which is angled by angle a relative to a vertical reference line 116 (Figure 6). In one embodiment, the cap 112 includes a circular face and uppermost portion thereof which can include a magnet therein similar to the magnet 40, so that the cap 112 can be attached temporarily to the ferrous band 26 (Figures 1 and 2), or attach to the magnet 40 if the magnets are oriented with north and south faces or vice versa to be attracted to each other, when the cap 112 is removed (or the cap 112 can have a ferrous portion for attachment to the magnet 40 or a magnet elsewhere on the lid 110 or vessel 20 (Figures 1 and 2). As an alternative, the cap 112 can be attached with a lanyard to the spout lid 110 to avoid losing the cap 112.

With the spout lid 110, the alternative carabiner support 150 is located adjacent to the magnet 40 and generally at a junction between the upper surface 32 and skirt 34 on this spout lid 110. The alternative carabiner support 150 (or carabiner support 50) could be positioned at other locations, such as closer to a center of the upper surface 32, or extending from the skirt 34. A central axis of the hole 155 is shown extending horizontally and generally parallel with the upper surface 32. However, the central axis of the hole 155 could be oriented vertically, especially if the alternative carabiner support 150 is attached to the skirt 34.

With particular reference to Figures 8-11, details of the centered lid 210 alternative embodiment of the lid 30 are described. The centered lid 210 is similar to the lid 30 (Figures 1 and 2) except that the carabiner support 50 is centered upon the upper surface 32 of the centered lid 210 in this embodiment. Details of this alternative orientation for this carabiner support 50 on the centered lid 210 are illustrated in the various different views of Figures 8-11. In alternative embodiments, the carabiner support 50 could be provided at various different portions of the upper surface 32, or even extending from the skirt 34 (Figures 1 and 2).

With particular reference to Figures 12-15, details of a straw lid 310 are described. The straw lid 310 is similar to the lid 30 (Figures 1 and 2) except that a secondary opening through the straw lid 310 is provided in the form of a straw 334. This straw lid 310 has a recess 332 extending into an upper surface of the straw lid 310. The straw 334 is pivotally supported within this recess 332, with a straw 334 extending to a tip 336 and with the straw 334 supporting a conduit 338 therein. This conduit 338 is coupled to a central pipe in one embodiment, which extends down into the vessel 20 of the bottle 10 (Figures 1 and 2) and typically near the bottom 22 of the vessel 20. In this way, suction applied to the tip 336 of the straw 334 causes liquids to be drawn up through the conduit 338.

In one embodiment, a valve between the straw 334 and the pipe (described above) is closed off when the straw 334 is pivoted down (along arrow F of Figure 14) into the recess 332. This valve is open when the straw 334 rotated up (opposite arrow F) and out of the recess 332. Details of the alternative carabiner support 150 associated with the straw lid 310 are generally similar to the alternative carabiner support 150 integrated into the lid 30 described in detail above with respect to the embodiment of Figures 4-7.

With particular reference to Figures 16-19, details of a centered spout lid 410 are described. The centered spout lid 410 features a cap 412 surrounding a spout extending vertically up from a center of the upper surface of the centered spout lid 410. Ribs 414 extend axially along a cylindrical wall of the cap 412. Uniquely with the centered spout lid 410, a circular upper surface of the cap 412 includes the carabiner support 50 thereon. Most preferably, the carabiner support 50 has at least an arch 60 portion thereof (Figure 3) formed along with other portions of the cap 412, such as by injection molding. As an alternative, the carabiner support 50 is affixed to the cap 412, such as by utilization of an adhesive.

Carabiner C is attached to the carabiner support 50, extending from the cap 412. In this embodiment, the carabiner C and carabiner support 50 can be grasped by a user to enhance torque applied to the cap 412 for removal (or tight attachment) of the cap 412 to the threads of the spout underlying the cap 412 (along arrow E of Figure 17). Thus, the carabiner support 50, in this embodiment, also acts as a further assist in rotation of the cap 412 and removal for accessing fluids within the bottle 10 below the centered spout lid 410, through the spout covered by the cap 412. While the spout and cap 412 are shown centered on the upper surface of the centered spout lid 410, a similar spout lid 410 could be provided with the spout and cap 412 located at various different locations upon the lid.

While the embodiments disclosed above show the carabiner support 50, 150 affixed to the lid 30 (or alternative embodiment lids 110, 210, 310, 410) a further option for the carabiner support 50, 150 is for the carabiner support 50, 150 to be affixed to a portion of the vessel 20 rather than to a portion of the lid 30 (Figures 1 and 2). Furthermore, a carabiner support 50, 150 could be provided on both the vessel 20 and on the lid 30, so that two separate carabiners C could be supported by the bottle 10 simultaneously, or a user could select which of the two carabiner supports 50, 150 would be utilized for attachment of a single carabiner C.

In a slightly modified embodiment, the neck 76 of the grommet 70 is ribbed with the ribs extending parallel with a central axis of the hole 55, 155. In such an embodiment, the hole 55, 155 would have a minor diameter and a major diameter. The minor diameter would be the diameter from high points in the surface of the neck 76. The major diameter would define the diameter of the hole 55, 155 measuring down into troughs between the ribs. The hole 55, 155 is configured to hold a carabiner C which has a diameter which would typically be between the major diameter and the minor diameter, for a hole 55, 155 provided according to this embodiment. Carabiners C having different diameters could thus be accommodated with similar functionality according to this embodiment.

In another embodiment, a closable slot extends into the hole 55, 155. A cover is formed of resilient pivotable material and includes a latch at a tip thereof. This cover extends entirely over and past the slot which extends into the hole 55, 155 laterally. When this cover is pivoted open, the carabiner C can be placed (or snapped) into the hole 55, 155, which preferably is lined with silicone over mold material or other similar resilient material. The cover can then be latched closed to secure the carabiner C therein. In one embodiment, the latch is like that provided on downhill ski boots with a lever action to close the latch/cover. A silicone over mold and surrounding structure would preferably be somewhat flexible to accommodate carabiners C of different diameters, but still strong enough to maintain their orientation when the carabiner C is unloaded, other than by weight forces acting upon the carabiner C.

In another illustrative embodiment, a snap slot 420 (Figure 18) extends into the hole 55, 155, preferably from a lateral side thereof. This snap slot has a width slightly smaller than a diameter of the hole 55, 155, and structural portions of the support 50, 150 surrounding the hole 55, 155 are sufficiently flexible, along with flexibility of the silicone over mold or other resilient liner material, to allow a carabiner C to be snapped into the hole 55, 155 laterally through this slot. The carabiner C will then be securely held in place by friction between the carabiner C and the silicone over mold material, or similar resilient material. In this embodiment, the hole is not a completely surrounded opening, both rather is a pathway for the carabiner C which pathway is only partially surrounded by structure, enough such structure being resilient in nature to hold the carabiner C static when snapped into the pathway.

This disclosure is provided to reveal a preferred embodiment of the invention and a best mode for practicing the invention. Having thus described the invention in this way, it should be apparent that various different modifications can be made to the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention disclosure. When embodiments are referred to as “exemplary” or “preferred” this term is meant to indicate one example of the invention, and does not exclude other possible embodiments. When structures are identified as a means to perform a function, the identification is intended to include all structures which can perform the function specified. When structures of this invention are identified as being coupled together, such language should be interpreted broadly to include the structures being coupled directly together or coupled together through intervening structures. Such coupling could be permanent or temporary and either in a rigid fashion or in a fashion which allows pivoting, sliding or other relative motion while still providing some form of attachment, unless specifically restricted.

Industrial Applicability

This invention exhibits industrial applicability in that it provides a water bottle or other fluid container with a carabiner support thereon for convenient attachment of the water bottle or other container to a hook, loop or other support, or for carrying by hand.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carabiner support for a water bottle or other container which can hold the carabiner in a variety of different static positions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a water bottle or other liquid container with a removable lid and a second opening through the lid for access of interior contents, and which also includes carabiner support.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for conveniently suspending a fluid container from a support.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a water bottle or other fluid container which is easy to carry and easy to suspend from various support structures.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lid with a carabiner support, which lid attaches to a vessel of a bottle either covering an opening into an interior of the bottle, or leaving the opening uncovered and the lid attached via a magnet to an exterior of the vessel.

Other further objects of this invention which demonstrate its industrial applicability, will become apparent from a careful reading of the included detailed description, from a review of the enclosed drawings and from review of the claims included herein.